[Hepatitis A and E in the east of Golestan province]

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis A and E are among the most important etiological factors of acute hepatitis, which can lead to fulminant liver disease and death. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis A and E in the east of Golestan Province, Iran. Eight hundred inhabitants of Gonbad City and Ghamar Ghozi Village from Kalale district were randomly selected for the study. Hepatitis A virus Antibody [Anti HAV] and Hepatitis E virus Antibody [Anti HEV] were checked by ELISA method. A total of 697 subjects [441 females] with a mean age of 43 +/- 15.1 years participated in this study. A total of 687 [98.6%] and 82 [11.8%] persons had positive Anti HAV and Anti HEV, respectively. This research is the first study on the prevalence of hepatitis A and E in the general population of Iran, which shows that HA V infection is pandemic and hepatitis E is common in the area